DISCIPLINE

You cannot accomplish anything in life without discipline. However the discipline has to come from within, with a ready willingness to adhere to its rigours.

If discipline is imposed from the outside, at best, it will leave people rigid and taut; at worst, it will incite rebellion.

A classic example being our education system. Within the school system, learning isn’t the primary goal; imposing discipline is. Everyone is expected to toe the line, because that is just the way it is. As a consequence of which, people will ignore and disregard the rules whenever they can. Because it is discipline for its own sake, and not for the sake of some grander purpose.

It is about controlling people, ultimately. And controlling people is unlikely to inspire anyone to raise their game.

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Discipline without love is tyranny.

© Phillip A. Klein March 2008